…is on the Brava blog. Check it out!

Okay. This post isn’t about whether vampires are actually still living, breathing creatures. As far as I’m concerned, that “world” determination is actually up to individual writers.

No, instead, this post is about paranormal romances in general and some trends that I noticed while perusing my local bookstore (and I sure do love to peruse there!).

First, vampire popularity seems to be just as strong as it ever was. On several of my loops, I’ve read posts by folks who proclaim that the vampire’s reign is over. That people are tired of those blood-drinking wonders.

I’m going to have to disagree. A quick glance at the shelves showed wonderful new releases by Vivi Anna (Blood Secrets) and Kerrelyn Sparks (Be Still My Vampire Heart). I can’t wait to get my greedy hands on those and read ‘em…because I still love the vampire.

And I know publishers are still buying vampire stories. I’ve sold two recently–one to Kensington Brava and one to Red Sage. I actually wrote the Red Sage novella first, and had such a great time that I had to write a full-length novel after that. Jeri-Smith Ready has what promises to be a great vampire series coming out from Pocket next year. So the fanged creature is definitely still popular with editors and publishers. (I suppose, as they say, it’s all in the execution!)

I also think that werewolves and shifters are riding a nice popularity high. As are witches (think Yasmine Galenorn or Christine Feehan).

What I haven’t seen lately are a lot of time travel romances–and this saddens me because I really like to read those books. At one time, I even had an outline for my own time travel. And maybe I will do that one…once I finish all my other projects!

So, what do you think? Are vampires dead? Are werewolves on the rise? What trends have you noticed in your local bookstore? Or, heck, what do you just want to see more of in terms of storyline?

So, the very talented and friendly Calista Fox tagged me to list 8 things that most folks don’t know about me. And here they are:

1. I can make a salt shaker disappear in five seconds. I’ll credit that to my amateur magician training.
2. In one sitting, I can easily eat twelve sweet yeast rolls–and if you try to take those rolls away from me, I will bite.
3. I hate to cry in a movie theater. Makes me miserable so I generally avoid sad movies.
4. I still have nightmares based on the old Hellraiser movies. So not cool.
5. I can speak pretty good French. I had two years in high school. Another year in college. Even won an award for “Outstanding French Student” my freshman year. As a prize, I got a giant t-shirt that had “Heteroglossia” on the front. Um, I think that means multi-tongued.
6. I don’t keep rejection letters. I throw them away as quickly as I can. Why keep something so negative?
7. One of my favorite all time books is Dream Man by Linda Howard. Psychic power. Serial killer. Sexy detective with enormous depth. Highly recommend it!
8. I once won a VCR because I called a 1-900 line and answered trivia questions about the Jean Claude Van Damme movie Universal Soldier.

So, that’s it. Eight facts about me. Kinda simple facts, but facts nonetheless. Instead of tagging any specific folks, if anyone out there would like to post some fun facts in the comments, please do! I’d love to read the facts!

To all the moms out there, I wish you a relaxing and peaceful Mother’s Day!

My day began with a lot of sleep–Nick took care of Jack while I snuggled in bed until ten, and then I was given a tray of donuts and donut holes in bed–doesn’t get much better for me! 🙂

Calista Fox has tagged me to reveal 8 things about myself that most people don’t know. I’ll post that list very soon, Calista, promise!

Today, my grandmother is celebrating her 93rd birthday. Yep, that’s right–ninety-three. (And she doesn’t look a day past eighty!)

I’ve been thinking about my grandmother a lot this morning, about all of the things that she has experienced in her life. Back when I was in college, I wrote a research paper comparing her life to mine (it was an analysis of a woman’s life in the 1920s versus the 1990s). Needless to say, I came away being very glad that I was born in a more open time period.

Going back to my grandmother…she is, without a doubt, what I would consider an amazing character. She has stories, so many stories, about her life growing up. Working on her farm. Killing snakes. Dancing with my grandfather and riding with him in a wagon across an old rickety bridge. She’s had good times and bad. My grandmother has buried four of her children and two of her grandchildren. She lost her husband, but kept her house and her independence. Her husband actually passed over twenty-five years ago. I’ve often asked her why she didn’t remarry, and her response to me has always been the same: “I’ll never have me another man.” Usually said with just a hint of impatience. My grandmother likes her independence, and I don’t think she wants any man telling her what to do–even if she does love said man. Yes, a very good character.

I wrote a story about my grandmother several years ago. A true story about her struggle to return to a normal life after a very severe stroke. That story went on to win first place in the 71st Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition (feature article category). Winning that contest convinced me that I should pursue the writing dream that I had always had. So, really, I owe all the success I’ve currently achieved to my grandmother.

Today, when I write characters in my stories, I try to make them as well-rounded as I can. I want my characters to be real, like my grandmother. I want them to have fun, personal catch-phrases like she does, “Sometimes you just can’t win for losing.” I want them to have hobbies they love with a passion–like her passion for yard sales. I want them to understand the hardships that come in life, and the blessings–just as I know my grandmother understands.

Happy birthday, Addie–I’ll be seeing you soon and we’ll have some cake and ice cream! 🙂